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Now hear trial project

Reach:

NT

Focus area:

Indigenous

Status:

Completed

Evaluated:

Yes

Time frame:

1 January - 1 December 1998

Overview

This school-based intervention project tried to reverse or remediate the consequences of ear disease and hearing loss among Indigenous students at six schools in the Northern Territory. The project also tried to demonstrate the link between otitis media with effusion, conductive hearing loss, and levels of English literacy. The school-based intervention included:

ear examination and hearing testing for over 1,000 students

medical treatment for students found to have ear disease

an inservice program for school staff

the provision of sound amplification systems in classrooms

practical modifications to classrooms to address acoustic issues.

Students' literacy and phonological awareness levels were tested at the beginning and end of the project to measure impact. Assessments were separated by approximately eight months.

The Indigenous students in this project had a very high prevalence of ear disease and persistent hearing disability compared to non-Indigenous children. Hearing support services at school were concluded to be especially important for Indigenous students learning English as a foreign language. High-attending Indigenous students were found to be those who:

have less ear disease

are less likely to have hearing loss

are more likely to stay in school until they are older

are more likely to achieve above Intensive English.

Teachers generally did not feel well prepared to integrate a systematic phonics program into the curriculum.

This intervention was funded by the Australian Government as a Strategic Results Project under the Indigenous Education Strategic Initiatives Programme.